Coast 2 Coast Closeup – Paradise Motel

Paradise Motel became a true recording act in late 1991 with the recording of our first full studio album. They released their first single “Fire in the hole” in early 1992 and later released a video for that song. It did very well in Canada and the USA. They were invited to play Fan Fair in Nashville and enjoyed some significant successes. These successes allowed them to create a network of contacts that would become their link to performing in the United States regularly. They opened for several major label artists in those years and during their tenure with Fan Fair, played iconic venues like the Earnest Tubb’s record shop midnight jamboree, Hee Haw Theatre in Knoxville, and the IFCO Fan Fair luncheon in Nashville. (Imagine playing for 18,000 people gorging themselves on pulled pork sandwiches and potato salad? AMAZING!!!) They also became affiliated with an agent that got them started on Nevada’s silver circuit. They played several casino venues throughout Nevada.

As a group, they had experienced a taste of success as well as some disappointments. The music touring and lifestyle had its issues, which ultimately led to the band separating in the summer of 1994.

In September of 2012, thier bass player (and Ray’s younger brother) Tim Mussell passed away unexpectedly. It was this tragic event that led to the reincarnation of Paradise Motel. Ray and Glenn started writing together again and decided to demo new songs. Glenn had a bed track of a song Ray liked, and during the 25-minute drive to meet one another, Glenn wrote the lyrics to “Black Dove.” It all started with that song. They tweaked the lyrics and the chorus chord sequence and demoed the song. Ray added vocal arranging and harmonies, and what we are about to release to the world is essentially what we created that afternoon.

Twenty five years have passed, and there is a new group of people who make up this version of Paradise Motel. Besides Ray Mussell and Glenn Ellery, there is Randy Rink, who does all the lead guitar work and the bulk of the rhythm guitar work for all our recording projects. Randy is a world-class guitarist and will be performing with the group. Our producer/engineer, Ron Chenier, managed all the studio production for our most recent projects. Ron was also our engineer when we recorded the original Paradise Motel CD back in 1991. Although he won’t be performing with the band, he is undoubtedly an integral part of it. As our manager, Chantelle Mussell is also part of this group. The remaining stage members are as yet to be determined. Paradise Motel, in its present configuration, has recorded two full studio albums and has also produced four music videos all for an upcoming release this year. The music is retro, edgy, simple, harmonic, and a bit on the raw side, and all songs are original.

To their departed brothers, Tim Mussell and Bernie Parenteau. They were an integral part of Paradise Motel in its inception and through several recording ventures early in the band’s history. We miss them immensely and wish they were still here with us for this next chapter. Some of the songs on Black Dove carry their musical influences. They were talented, creative, funny, dedicated, and excellent individuals, and this world was undoubtedly a better place with them in it.

It is the hope of the entire Paradise Motel group that through this initial project, we can create a sustainable entity that will be self-supporting for years to come. An experience people will want to revisit over and over. If we can achieve this, it will open doors for more projects, employ more people, engage more artists, and create an environment that is both artistic and productive.

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